Introduced for the 2019 model year, this midsize SUV was developed specifically for North America and assembled in Kia’s Georgia plant. It marked a clear shift toward market-specific products for the brand, with a boxy, upscale design and family-focused packaging aimed at U.S. buyers. Its February 2019 launch drew immediate attention, helped by a widely noticed Super Bowl campaign that played up its Georgia connection and local pride. Demand was strong from the start and quickly established the vehicle as one of Kia’s most important nameplates in the U.S. market.
The nameplate has remained a single continuous production run since its debut. In 2020, it added major credibility by earning both North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and World Car of the Year honors, reinforcing its position as more than just a domestic-market success story. Over time, it has become closely associated with Kia’s rise in the American SUV segment, blending a premium feel with practical three-row utility and a distinctly rugged character. It remains one of the brand’s most recognizable modern SUVs and a key part of Kia’s North American lineup.